Device for depositing centers in candy pieces



June 16, 1953 c; R. ZIMMER DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES WW Q 7; kn

INVENTOR. Clyde BZmmer 900%, Sea/mom! 7 W Attorneys June 16, 1953 h c. R. ZIMMER DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1950 F IG. 2.

June 16, 1953 c. R. ZIMMER 2,642,010

DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN cum PIECES Filed Oct. 20. 1950 v Sheets-Sheet :5

c'lyde RZimme? W, a eunmut 7 mm Attorneys 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 c. R. .ZIMMER DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES vtiy June 16, 1953 Filed Oct. 20, 1950 INVENTOR (lyde RZdm mer' ,Qeanwml g; 1 041 Attorneys June 16, 1953 c. R. ZIMMER 2,642,010

DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES Filed Oct. 20, 1950 7 Sheet s-Sheet 5 x INVENTOR:

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A Itorneys June 16, 1953 I c. R. ZIMMER ,6

DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES Filed Oct. 20, 1950 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. dlyde R Zimmer June 16, 1953 c. R. ZIMMER DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 20, 1950 INVENTOR:

B fiyda 1?. Z in: war

Attorneys Patented June 16, 1953 I DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING CENTERS IN CANDY PIECES Clyde R. Zimmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to E. J. Brach & Sons, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application \October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,244

11 Claims.

'ters, and depositing the unit cores .or centers in.

individual mold cavities provided in a continuously moving mold.

In the manufacture of candy of the type whic comprises fruit or nut centers embedded in candy cream, such as, for instance, the well known 'chocolatecovered creams havingcherries embedded in their centers, it is desirable that a single cherry devoid of an excessive amount of juice, which accompanies said cherries, be embedded in each piece of candy. If more than one cherry is embedded in the candy, difiiculty is encountered in completely covering the core with the candy cream and the chocolate, rendering subsequent handling and packaging difficult and resulting generally in an unsatisfactory product from the consumers viewpoint. If an excessive amount of juice accompanied the cherries the finished candies are pronev to be unsatisfactory due to leakage of the juice from candy and the candies are undesirably messy to eat, the juices tending to leak or squirt out when the candies are bitten.

The ideal manner of preparing such candies, candy with cherry centers being again referred to as an example, is to form a mold for. the'reception of the cherry and embedding candy cream; deposit asingle cherry devoid of excessive juice into the mold cavity; deposit candy cream in the mold cavity, which contains the cherry, the cream completely filling the cavity and completely surrounding the cherry; and, subsequently coat the completely embedded cherry together with the embedding cream with chocolate or other desired outer covering.

In view of the fact that fruit centers for candies, particularly cherries, are soft and mushy, juicy and tend to be adhesive, they cannot be conveniently segregated into units devoid of excessive juice and the ideal procedure, hereinbefore described, is difficult of attainment, particularly as an efiicient and rapid mechanical operation.

The presentinvention is particularly directed to a machine which effectively approaches the ideal operation, having provision for segregating .the unit cores or centers from a mass of such cores or centers,removing excessjuices, and depositing said unit centers in continuously :advancing preformed mold cavities as a continuous, completely automatic operation.

The structural details, advantages and features of the present invention will be more apparent from th accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine comprising the concepts of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an'end elevation of said machine, being the opposite end from that illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line d i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detailed plan sectional View taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line l-'I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Fig. 7 looking in th direction of the arrows 8-8. I

Fig. 9 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig.7.

Fig. 10' is a detailed top plan view illustrating two of the conveyor pans, the control plates associated therewith being shown in closed and open position respectively.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line I IH of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l2l2 of Fig. 10.

Although the presentinvention is not intended" to be limited to the specific type of candy which is made thereon, for purposes of illustrating the principles of the invention and describing the various structural features of the machine comprising the concepts of the invention, the machine will be described in conjunction with the manufacture of chocolate covered cream candies with cherry centers. 01" course, the machine may be employed in conjunction with other fruit or The present machine may be employed with the usual candy making machine which oomprises a conveyor for continuously moving mold 3 and 4.

vided, said cavities being intended generally to conform with or control the configuration or shape of the candy which is being made. In employing the present machine the frame members I and 2 are disposed upon each side of the rails -5 and chains 5-45, the arrangement being I such that the trays I are moved in a continuous manner in seriatim between the frame plates 3 and 4.

A pair of brackets 99 are secured to the standards l and 2, said brackets supporting screws I9.

The screws it are threadedly engaged in nuts I i which are respectively rigidly secured as by welding to offset flanges i2 which are carried at the ends of a transverse bar [3. The bar [3 supports the rails 35 and by manipulation of the screws ID by means of handles it the transverse bar l3 may be raised or lowered or'properly leveled in order to dispose the rails 5-5 in a desired position. In order to properly position the trays "l in a lateral direction, as said trays are carried between the frame plates 3 and a, opposite guide bars l5 are positioned adjacent each of the frame members 3 and 4, said guide bars being carried by brackets [6. The guide bars [5 at opposite sides of the machine are so spaced as to function v as guides for the lateral sides of the trays l which pass between the frame plates 3 and 4.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, the

present machine is adapted to deposit cherries,

such as the usual Maraschino cherry, in the mold cavities 3, one cherry devoid of an excess amountof accompanying juice being deposited in each of the mold cavities. The operation of depositing the cherries in the mold cavities 3 is a continuous operation and the disposition of the cherries is accomplished during the continuous forward movement of the trays 5 upon the conveyor chains 5'5.

A shaft l'l is journaled in bearings l3 and I9 which are respectively carried by the frame plates A shaft 29 is journaled in bearings 2i and 22 respectively carried by the frame plates 3 and d, shafts H and 23 being spaced from each other. A sprocket wheel 23 is carried adjacent one end of shaft H and at its opposite end a sprocket wheel 24 is carried, both of said sprocket wheels being rigidly mounted upon the shaft ll.

.Similarly a sprocket wheel 25 is mounted adjacent one end of shaft 23 anda sprocket wheel 26 is mounted on said shaft adjacent its opposite end. Sprocket wheels 24 and 26 are disposed in alignment with each other adjacent the frame plate 4 and sprocket wheels 23 and 25 are also disposed in alignment with each other adjacent frame plate 3. A sprocket chain 21' is trained around the sprocket wheels 23 and 25 and a sprocket chain 28 is trained around sprocket wheels 24 and 2B.

Sprocket chain 21 carries a plurality of angle shaped brackets 29 and sprocket chain 23 similarly carries a corresponding plurality of angle shaped brackets 39. Mounted upon each opposite pair of brackets 29 and 39 'is a recessed bar or pan 3|, the respective bars being secured to the brackets 29 and 33 by means of screws 32.

Each of the bars 31 are provided with a plurality of recesses 33 which are disposed adjacent each other along substantially the entire length of each bar. The recesses 33 are substantially circular in cross section but may be formed of any desired sectional configuration. The recesses 33, as will be hereinafter more fully described, are adapted to carry the unit cherries from a mass of cherries contained in a hopper and deposit them in the mold cavities 8, one cherry from each recess 33 being deposited in one mold cavity 8.

Each bar 3i carries on its opposite sides plates '34 which are secured to the bar 35 by means of screws 35 or the like. Adjacent one face of each of the bars the plates 34 are turned inwardly to provide elongated flanges 36 along an interme diate portion of the edges of each bar, said flanges being spaced from the face of each bar to function as guides for a slidable valve or closure plate 3? which is slidably positioned upon that face of each of the bars to which the recesses 33 open. A lug 38 is secured, preferably by welding to one end of each of the slidable plates 3?, said lug extending upwardly from the plane of each of the slidable plates. Each of the plates 31' is provided with a plurality of circular apertures 39 which are spaced from each other along the length of the plates in substantial conformity with the spacing of the recesses 3-3 provided in the bars 3|.

The arrangement is such that the plates 31 may be slidably moved upon the faces of the bars 3! to bring theapertures 39 into registration with the mouths of the recesses 33 or said plates may be slidably moved so as to offset the apertures 39 with respect to the mouths of the recesses 33. As will be hereinafter more fully described after a cherry has been deposited in each of the recesses 33, the apertures 39 being in registration with the mouths of the recesses, during the depositing of the cherries in the recesses, the cherries may be effectively confined in said recesses by shifting the bars 31 so as to offset the apertures 39 from the mouths of the recesses 33. When the bars 3? have been shifted so as to be offset with respect to the mouths of the recesses 33, those portions of each plate 3'! between apertures 39 are disposed immediately above the mouths of the recesses 33, a complete closure of the mouths of said recesses not being effected. However, the area of the mouths of the recesses which are closed is sufficient to prevent, when the bars are inverted, the cherries contained in the recesses from falling out of the recesses. Yet, if juice or liquid is contined in the recesses, and said bars are inverted said juice or liquid can escape from the recesses.

Although the bars 3| are shown and described as comprising solid rectangular bars having bores comprising the recesses 33, the bars or pans 3| may be, if desired, constructed of sheet metal wherein indentations have been stamped or otherwise formed to provide recesses equivalent to the recesses 33 herein shown and described. P A shaft 40 is journaled in the opposite supporting standards I and 2 and a sprocket wheel 4! is rigidly secured to said shaft. The sprocket wheel 4! is driven by sprocket chain 42 from a source of power (not shown) which is timed with the movement of the conveyor chains 5-5. Hence, the shaft 49 is driven in a continuous manner.

A crank arm 43 is rigidly secured to one end of shaft 49, the crank arm being pivotally connected to a sleeve 44 which is threadedly con- *ment for the sprocket chain 2?.

which a pin 5| pivotally connects the arm 48 to clevis 52. Bythe provision of the spaced apertures 59 the. clevis-52 may be connected at a desired portion of the length of arm 48 whereby the effective throw of the armmay be changed.

A screw 53 is threadedly connected to the clevis 52 at one end and at the opposite end is'thread- -edly connected in block 54 pivotally carried upon a pin 55. Pin 55 extends througha threaded sleeve 56 and also extends through an elongated slot 51 provided in a lever arm 58. A lug 59 is rigidly mounted upon lever arm 58 and is provided with internal threadsfor the reception of screw 69, the opposite end of which is threadedly carried upon sleeve 56.

Arm 58 adjacent its upper end is loosely mount- 'ed upon a shaft 6| and said arm comprises an extension 62 to which a pawl 63 is pivotally secured as at 64 in Fig. 3. A ratchet wheel 65 rigidly secured to shaft 6| and pawl 63 cooperates with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Shaft 6| is journaled in frame plate 4 at oneend and at its opposite or outer end is journaled inbearing 66 (Fig. 1), said bearing being carried by a bracket 61 which, in turn, is mounted upon the frame plate 4.

The arrangement is such that when shaft 40 is rotated link 45 functions to rock arm 48 about 'its pivot 49. By virture of the connection between the end ofa'rm 48- and lever arm 58, a rocking motion is imparted to the lever arm 58. This motion, in turn, rocks extension .62 thereby causing pawl 63 to alternately positively engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 65 and alternately slide over said teeth. By virtue of the threaded connection 53 between arm 48 and lever arm 58 and also by virtue of the threaded member 66 the throwimparted to the lever arm 58 and hence the-movement of pawl '63 may be controlled. In this fashion an intermittent movement is imparted to shaft 6|.

A spur gear 63 is rigidly secured to shaft 6|, said spur gear meshing with spur gear 69 which is keyed to shaft l1. The arrangement is-such that the intermittent movement of shaft 8| is imparted to shaft l1 and in view of the fact that sprocket wheels and chains hereinbefore described connect shaft H to shaft 28 the recessed bars or pans 3| are carried intermittently with the chains 21 and 28. a

A plate 13 is adjustably mounted upon frame plate 3, the frame plate being provided with a pair of parallel slots 1| in which screws 12 are adjustably positioned to hold the plate 10. A lug 13 (Fig. l) carries a threaded screw 14 which bears upon a bearing 15 which latter is carried by plate 18. An idler sprocket wheel 16 is loosely mounted upon shaft 11 which in turn is journaled in bearing 15, sprocket chain 21 in passing from sprocket wheel 23 to sprocket wheel 25 is carried around sprocket wheel 16, said latter sprocket wheel by virtue of its adjustable relationship with the frame plate 3 functioning as a tightening ele- As has been hereinbefore described, the slots 1| in the frame plate 3 are substantially horizontally disposed and hence adjustment of the plate by'the manipulation ofscrew 14 will occur in a substantially horizontal direction. In this fashion a portion of the travel of the chain 21 takes place in a horizontal direction parallel to and immediately above the mold trays 1. A similar plate 11 is similarly mounted upon the opposite frame plate 4,. said plate 11 carrying bearing 18 in which shaft 19 is journaled. Shaft 19 in turn supports idler sprocket wheel 8|! which engages with sprocket chain 28 in the same fashion as the sprocket wheel 16 engaged with sprocket chain 21. The varrangementis such that the recessed bars or pans 3| during a period of their travel are carried between the idler sprocket wheels 16 and 80 and the sprocket wheels 25 and 26 in a substantially horizontal plane disposed parallel to and immediately above the mold trays 1.

A hopper 8| is mounted upon the upper portion of the machine, and comprises end walls 82 and 63 and an inclined side wall 84. End wall 82 is supported by a strap 85 which in turn is secured to the frame plate 3. Similarly, strap 86 supports the end wall 83, said strap being mounted upon frame plate 4. An angle iron 81 is mounted at itsends-upon the opposite frame plates 3 and 4 respectively, the side wall 84 of the hopper being secured to and supported by the angle iron 81.

The walls 82, 83 and 84" comprise the defining walls of the hop-per 8|, the bottom of the hopper being open and being disposed adjacentthe path of travel of the recessed bars or pans 3| during their passage upwardly. A pair of opposite straps 88, only one of which is illustrated, confines a pair of resilient strips 89 which extend below the lower edges of the end walls 82 and 83 of the hopper. Similarly a strap 90 confines a resilient strip 9| at the lower portion of the side a wall 84, the strip 9| extending below the lower edge of the wall 84. During operation of the device the lower edges of the strips 89 and 9| make contact with the upper faces, that is the recessed faces of the plates or pans3| to render the joints at the lower portion of the hopper 8| with the plates or pans 3| substantially fluid tight.

In operation the hopper 8| is adapted to carry a mass of fruit centers or cores, such as cherries, which are subsequently delivered as units to the mold cavities 8.

A bracket 92 is mounted upon the supporting standard l, said bracket carrying an upwardly inc-lined strap 93 which is secured at its upper end to the bearing block 95 and at its lower end is secured to bearing block 95' which in turn is carried by straps I09 and W2. A bearing IE3 is carried by the bearing block 95. A shaft |94 is journaled in bearing I03. A sprocket wheel I85 is keyed to the end of shaft 34, said sprocket wheel being provided with opposite slots I06. A cam M11 is loosely mounted upon shaft I94 and is secured to sprocket wheel I85 by cap screws I08,

. the arrangement being such that cam Hi1 may be adjusted radially a limited distance with respect tosprocket wheel I85. A second sprocket Wheel |ll9 is keyed to shaft 7 I54 and sprocket chain 39 which .is trained around sprocket wheel '98 is also trained around sprocket wheel I39.

A bracket III] is mounted upon the frame plate '3 and carries a'shaft III upon which .is loosely mounted an idler sprocket wheel II2 which engages with sprocket chain dfi and functions as a tightener for said chain. A shaft '3 is journaledin bearings I I4 andI is which are respectively carried by frame plates 3 and i4. An idler sprocket wheel I I5 is carried upon shaft I I3 and also engages with sprocket chain99 functioning to tighten said chain.

Asprocket wheel III is keyed to shaft 43 and a sprocket chain H8 is trained around said sprocket wheel, said sprocket chain also being trained around sprocket wheel I85. A clamp member l I9 is carried upon strap I03, said clamp member, in'turn, carrying a shaft I upon which an idler sprocket pinion is looselyrnounted. A sprocket pinion I2! engageswith an intermediate portion of sprocket "chain I I8 and functions to tightensaid chain.

The arrangement is such that when shaft 45 is rotated sprocket wheel II'I drives sprocket wheel I05 through the agency of chain H8. Shaft I04 is thereby rotated which, in turn, drives sprocket wheel I99 over which sprocket chain 199 is trained. In this fashion shaft 91 upon which sprocket wheel 93 is carried is ro- 9;

tated.

A cam I22 having a cam slot I23 is mounted upon shaft 51 and is rotated in timed relationship with shaft 40 and shaft I64. A cam follower roller I24 engages in the cam slot I23, 1,

said roller being carried at the end of the follower bar I25. The follower bar I25 is slidably positioned in guide I25 secured to the frame blade 3 and in guide I27 (Fig. l) secured to frame plate '4, the'arrangement being'such that when shaft 9? is rotated follower bar I25 is reciprocated by engagement of the follower roller I24 in the curved portion I25 of the cam slot I23.

Adjacent the inner side of frame plate 3, cam

follower bar I25 is provided with a slot I29 in I whicha block I3!) is positioned, the block I30 being of lesser dimension than the length of the slot I29. A channeled cap plate I3I is secured to the upper portion of the block I by means of cap screw I32, the flanges of the charmel plate.

embracin the outer side portions of the follower bar I 25. A plate I33 is secured to the lower portion of the block I33, said plate having an angular extending curved cam finger I34. A block I35 is secured to the lower face of the follower bar I35, said block being provided with a vpawl I 35 for the reception of a coil spring I31, which at its outer end, bears against the cam finger I34 and at its inner end is adjustably positionedagainst the end of set screw I38 with- .inthebore I36.

.The cam finger I34 is positioned adjacent the path of travel of the lugs 38 carried upon the recessed bars or pans 3I when said bars or pans are carried by the sprocket chains 2! and 28. The timing of the mechanism is such that periodically the cam follower "bar I25 reciprocates outwardly with respect to the frame plate 3, that is, when the follower roller I24 engages with the curved-portion I28 of the cam slot I23. In thus moving outwardly the cam finger I34 is moved outwardly and makes contact with two adjacent lugs 38 carried by two adjacent recessed bars or pans 3!. As has been hereinbefore described the lugs .38 are secured to the slidable apertured :or pans 31.

member '40 extends.

--tion;of-the shaft 91 is correlated with the movementof thechains "2! and 28 in such fashion rthat the bar I25 will-reciprocate outwardly once during the passage of two of the recessed bars As will-be hereinafter more fully -described, at the phase of operation wherein the rplates 31 are shifted to closed position, said :pl'atesprior to-approaching the zone of the cam ifinger I34 are so disposed as to have their apertures in registration with the mouths of the recesses 33. Hence, reciprocation of the bar I25 outwardly functionsto simultaneously move two of the plates 3'! to brin the apertures 39 into oifset relationship with respect to the mouths of the recesses 33.

.llnsthez ad-justmenteof the parts, the cap screw I32 is-tightened to such a degree that movement of theplates31- can be accomplished without displacement of the block I30 within the slot I29 provided in the follower bar I25. However, in the event that the plates 3! are positively restrained from-moving within the guides 36, such as may occur if a cherrypit or otherso'lid material may become wedged between the defining edge of an aperture 39 and a defining mouth of a recess 33,-the block I30 .will shift in the recess I29 against the compression of spring I31 and consequently injury tothe parts will not take place. Thestreng-thof spring I31 is such that upon-the nextphase ofrotation of the cam I22, the-sprin I3! will have returned the block I30 toits proper positionwithin slot I29. Hence, al though the cam finger I34 willbe prevented by some positive obstruction from shifting one pair of. plates .31, said cam finger will be immediately returned tc-its normal position so as to function properly with-respect to the next pair of plates which move eppositethecam finger.

Referring particularly to Figs, 5 and 6,, an angle bracket I40 is secured to frame plate 3 by-means of screws MI. The frame plate 3 is provided with an aperture I42 adjacent sprocket wheel 25through which one arm of the angle A guide I43 is positioned in aperture I.42 and is secured to the angle member IAIlbymeans of-screws I44 and an L-shaped figmber I45 is slidably positionedin the guide One arm I46 of the L-shapedmember I45 carries..alfollowerroller I41 which is engageable sin-cam slot I48 .of a cam 149, the latter being .mountedupon shaft I04 adjacent sprocket wheel I09. The cam slot I48 is provided with a curved portion or dip I50, the function. of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

ThelL-shapedmember I45 also carries an arm I5I whichis disposed at right angles to the arm I46. The arm I'5I has an operating face I52 which is disposed substantially parallel to the lugs 38 carried upon the apertured slides3'l. A bracket I53 is mounted-upon guide I43 and caras the shaft I 04 rotates the cam follower l4! throughout a major period of the rotation of the cam I49 is disposed in the circumferential portion of the cam slot I48. When the roller I4! en-.

gages the dip or curved portion I50 of the cam slot the L-shaped member I45 is slidably moved in the guide I 43, the movement taking place to the right as viewed in Figs. and 6, that is, toward the flanges 38. As has been hereinbefore described the flanges 38 and hence the apertured slides 31 were previously moved by the cam I22 so as to offset apertures 39 from the mouths of the recesses 33. The function of the cam- I49 is to so move the apertured slides 31 as to bring. 'the apertures 39 in the slides 3'1 into-registration with the respective mouths of the recesses 33.

This operation is performed when the L.- shaped member I 45 is slidably moved in the guide I43 under the influence of the dip I50 in the cam slot I48. The arrangement is such that the contact face I52 of the arm I5I makes contact with two of the flanges 38and thus moves said two flanges so as. to dispose the apertures 39 of two of the slides 31 into registration with mouths 33 of two of the recessed bars or pans- 3|. It can readily be seen that during one revolution of the shaft I64 two of the apertured slides 31 are moved to bring about the registration hereinbefore described.

A shaft I5! is journaled at its opposite ends 4 in bearings I58 and I59, respectively, mounted upon frame plates 3 and 4. A roll IE1! is carried upon an intermediate portion of shaft I51, 'said roll carrying a plurality of circumferentially dis- 1 posed tufts I6I of relatively resilient bristles, the I roll I60, in effect, constituting a rotating brush designated generally by the reference numeral I62. A sprocket wheel I 63 is mounted upon shaft I51 and a sprocket chain M54 is trained around said sprocket wheel, said chain also being trained around a sprocket wheel I65 mounted upon shaft I1. Consequently, whenshafts I] and 20 are rotated, carrying the recessed bars or pans iii in endless fashion, as hereinbefore described, the rotating brush I62 is moved in timed relationship with the movement of said recessed bars or pans. A shaft I66 is journaled' in bearings I61 and I68 respectively mounted upon frame plates 3 and 4. -A tube I69 is carried upon an intermediate portion of shaft I66, 'saidtube throughout a substantial portion of its'length carries a plurality of relatively flexible tubular vanes I16.

scribed,.the peripheral movement of the ends of the vanes is opposite to that of the translatory movement .of the recessed bars 3!.

10 scribed, the trays I are continuously moved by the conveyor chains 6 between the frame plates 3 and 4. Simultaneously, and in timed relationship with the movement of the chains 6, the shaft 40 is rotated by the sprocket chain 42. R0- tation of the shaft. 40 results in an intermittent movement of the shafts I 'I and 29, the intermittent movement being obtained through the agency of the rocking arms 48 and 58 and the pawl and ratchet arrangement hereinbefore described. In this fashion the chains El and 28 move intermittently, and the recessed bars or I pans 3| carried by said chains move intermittently in an endless fashion around sprocket Wheels 23, 24,25, and 26 and around the idler pinions I6 and 86.

- During a portion of the travel of the recessed bars or pans 3|, said pans move beneath the hopper 8 I, moving in an upwardly inclined direction. The pans then move downwardly, their direction of movement being controlled by the position of the-sprocket pinions I6 and 86. Thereafter the pans move in an inverted position in a direction parallel to and adjacent the upper surfaces" of the molds. It will be noted that the mold cavities 8 provided in the upper surface of the starch carried in thetrays 76 are disposed in rows transverse to the direction of movement of the trays. As has been hereinbefore' described, therecesses 33 provided in the bars .3I are disposed adjacent each other forming, in

' continuously whereas the bars move intermittently. The arrangement is such that during the Asprocket wheel I12 is mounted upon shaft I66 and a sprocket chain I13 is trained around the sprocket wheel I i2 and is also trained around a sprocket wheel I74 mounted upon shaft I51,

Hence when the rotating brush I62 is moved, as

has been hereinbefore described, the tube I 69 carrying the vanes I'Iil also moves in unison there-.

with.

Although the recessed bars or pans 3I moveintermittently the shafts 9'! and I04 upon which cams I 22 and I 39 are respectively mounted are continuously rotated in timed relationship with the rotation of the shaft 49. It will also be noted that the cam I22 is disposed adjacent sprocket Wheel 23, that is, that the apertured slides 3? which are moved by the cam finger I34 are those associated with bars which have reached their uppermost position after passing beneath the hopper 8I., In this position the cam finger I3 3 moves'the apertured slides associated with two of the bars so as to offset the apertures 39 of the slides 37 with respect to the mouthsof the recesses 33 provided in the two bars 3!. Referring particularly to Fig. lit will be noted that the recesses of bar I75 are open whereas the recesses of bar IIfi adjacent to bar I75 are closed. 'It is at this point in the travel of the bars that thelcam" I22 functions to move the slides 3'! so as to bring the apertures 39 in offset relationship to the mouths of the recesses 33.

After the recesses in the bars have thus been closed they remain closed until the bars move adjacent the sprocket Wheel 25, that is while the bars are moving in a horizontal direction and said-bars are inverted.

Referring again to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the recesses 33 of the bar I'II are closed whereas 11' the recesses: of the adjacent bar: I13 are. open. It is at this point that the cam I49 functions to move'the apertured slides 31 so. as to bring the.

apertures 39 into registering position with the mouths of the recesses 33.

Thereafter the recesses. 83 of the bars remain open, that is with the respective apertures 39 in registration with said recesses, until the bars.

reach the position indicated by the position of the bar H6. closesaid recesses, as hereinbefore described and the cycle isthus repeated.

In the operation of the device the hopper BI is.

charged with a mass of centers or cores, which for purposes of description, may be a mass of Maraschino cherries. It will be noted that the bars at the lower portion of the hopper BI namely these bars which, in effect, comprise the floor" terrupted and the mass is thus moved rearwardly with, respect to the direction .of travel of the bars. By virtue of the fact thatthe vanes iii! are relatively resilient the urging force asserted by said vanes upon the cherries will not injure or unduly crush the cherries.

llhe size or volume of the recesses 33 is such as. to conveniently accommodate one. unit cherry or core. Hence, when the bars. move beneath the hopper iii a cherry finds its way from the mass into each ofv the recesses 33. Of course, morethan one cherry will attempt to move into each recess but the. excess cores or cherries will not be able to completely secrete themselves within the recess and will be carried along with the bars in such fashion as to extend above the mouths ofthe recesses.

This isthe condition which obtains. as thebars approach the rotating brush I62. It will be. noted that the periphery or extremity of the brush I62 moves in substantially tangential relationship to the upper surface of the bars3-I.

Consequently, during therotation of the brush.

52 those excesscoresor cherries which ride partially in or partially out of the. recesses. are dislodged from the. recesses and urged. rearwardly with respect. to the. movement of the bars. The brush I62, of: course, rotates in the direction of. the arrow (Fig. 4) which is in a direction con? trary to the t'ranslatory movement of the bars at this period of operation.

Shortly after' passing beneath the brush I62 cam I 22 functions, by virtue of the cam finger I34 to simultaneously close the slides 3'1 of two of the cars. In this fashion the bars, commencing with the. bar I16 proceedwith the slides 37 ofiset so as to confine the single cherry in each recess within the recess. The bars then move down wardly tov inverted position. The slide 37, however, being in offset position function asclosures for therecesses 33 and thus the unit. cherry containedin each recess is prevented from falling from the recess even though the bars are in inverted position.

As the'operation proceedsthe bars eventually The cam I22 then functions to.

Consequently, the upward movement of.

reach the. horizontal path of. travel. where: the: bars are disposed immediately abovethe passing. trays. The timing of the machine is such that. when two of the bars are disposed with their re"- cesses immediately above the respective cavities 8, the cam I49 functions to slide the apertured slides 37 so as to bring the apertures 39 into regis-- tration with the mouths of the recesses 33 of two of the bars. The cherries contained in the.-recesses being thus unsupported drop into the re-* spective cavities 3 of the tray I passing beneath the bars.

As has been hereinbefore described, thetrays I move in a continuous manner whereas the bars. 3i move intermittently. In. order to. achieve registration of the recesses 33 in those twobars which: have their slides opened by the action of cam I49, the timing of the parts is suchthat the bars when they move, move slightly faster. than the trays I. This differential in speed of movement. permits the desired registration to be secured at the moment when the slides 31 are moved to registering position. when. the apertures in the slide 3? are moved into register-- ing position. with the. mouths of the recesses 33.. Hence, all of the rows of the cavities Swill re-- ceive their allotted core or cherry.

0f. course, the rotating. brush. H52v essentially prevents the disposition ofmore than one. cherry ineach recess 35]. Of; course, broken portions of cherries may find their-wayto predetermined recesses in company with a unit cherry. How-- ever, this situation is exceptional. The nature. of the mass of. cherries, however, is such. that i a. quantity of juice finds its way into eachrecess along with the desired cherry. As-has been hereinbefore. described, if the core is accompanied by toomuch. juice of liquid,., the resulting candy product becomes. undesirable. To. eliminate the unwanted juice. and. still. retain the. cherry in each recess, it will'be noted by particular reference. to- Fig. 10,, that when the apertures 39- are offset with respectto the recesses 33 space is provided on each side of the recess for. the egress of juice or liquid. In this. fashion.when the bars are inverted the. juice or liq uid runs from the recesses and may be caught by apan I13 carried upon brackets I80 secured to. the opposite. frame p1ates.3-- and-4..

As. has been hereinbefore described'some types of food. cores. suchxascherries are adhesive to a degree and. hence there is the possibility of 3 predetermined cherry sticking in a recess eventhough the. bar. 31 carrying said recess is invert-- ed.. To. eliminate 'this possibility cam Iii-I is mounted. upon. shaft IM and continuously rotates with said shaft. A camfollower roller I81 is. carried. upon the end of an arm. I82. which is rigidly mounted upon. shaft. I I3. This. shaft ex.- tends. across the machine and carriesintermediate. i'tslength a pair of. rapping bars 583: which are spaced fromeach other. along the length of the shaft. The cam roller I8! is maintained in contact with the face of. the cam I81 and this cam is provided with an. indentation I82 (Fig. 2) at a portion. ofv its periphery. The cam fol.- lower L8! is maintained in contact with the face of. the. cam by means of coil spring I84 which a is. anchored uponthe strap 93. The faces of the rapping bars are of such width as to span portions of two of the bars 3]. and the rapping bars are so positioned with respect to the recessed bars or pans 3| that said rapping bars make 13 cesses 33. Thus, at the time that the recesses 33 are opened, the cam follower roller l8! will reach the dip I82 in the cam periphery and the bars I83 will impart a staccato rap to the rear faces of the recessed bars'whose recesses are newly opened. This vibration tends to dislodge any core or cherry which may otherwise remain adhesively secured within the inverted recesses.

After the cores have been discharged from the recessed bars or pans, said latter members continue their travel toward the hopper bottom with the recesses open. In being carried toward the hopper said bars or pans pass adjacent pipe I85 which is provided with a plurality of recesses for the discharge of air under pressure, the streams of air being directed toward the recessed faces of the bars or pans whereby core fragments and other undesirable residue may be removed from the recesses. be connected to any suitable source of air under pressure (not shown).

It is apparent that herein is described a machine for automatically depositing cores for candy pieces in preformed mold cavities, excessive liquid or juice being prevented from entering the cavities and substantially only one'core being allotted to each cavity. Many modifications of the present machine will suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art and, hence, it is not intended that the invention be limited except as necessitated by the appended claims.

v I claim as my invention:

1. .A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candy mold cavities provided in a continuously passing candy mold comprising a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, center-receiving means'dis-.

- posed in supporting relationship to said mass of centers in the hopper, means for intermittently moving said center-receiving means through said hopper in an upwardly inclined direction, said center-receiving means being endless and being provided with a plurality of recesses for the reception of centers in said recesses during movement through the hopper, means carried upon said center-receiving means for obstruct- .ing egress of said centers from the recesses,'said obstructing means being movable to and from obstructing position, means adjacent the path of travel of said center-receiving means for moving the obstructing means to obstructing position, means for inverting said center-receiving means after said recesses are closed, means for substantially aligning said recesses in inverted position with respective mold cavities provided in a mold continuously moving beneath said inverted center-receiving means, and means adjacent the path of travel of the inverted centera receiving means for removing the obstruction from said recesses while the recesses and'cavities are in substantial alignment and While said .center-receiving means moves to deposit centers The pipe I85 may 14 1 means for intermittently moving said elongated members moving in endless'fashion transversely a movable to and from obstructing position with respect to said recesses, means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said endlessly moving elongated members for moving said obstructing means to obstructing position to prevent egress of said centers from said recesses, means for inverting said elongated members, means for substantially aligning said recesses in inverted position With respective mold cavities'provided in rows parallel to said elongated members in a mold continuously moving in a direction transverse to said rows beneath said inverted elongated members, and means for moving said obstructing means from obstructing position with respect to said recesses while the recesses and cavities are in substantial alignment and while said elongated members are moving to deposit said unit'centers from the recesses into the respective cavities. I

3. A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a" plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candymold cavities provided in a continuously passing candy mold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, endless means movable through said hopper provided with a plurality of upwardly opening recesses for receiving a unit center in each recess, said endless means comprising a plurality of parallel disposed elongated members each provided with a row of center-receiving recesses, means for intermittently moving said elongated members moving in endless fashion transversely to their length, means carried upon said members for obstructing egress of said centers from said recesses when said elongated members are in. verted, means for inverting said elongated members, means for substantially aligning the recesses in a plurality of elongated members in inverted position with respective mold cavities provided in rows parallel to said elongated members in a mold continuously moving in a direction transverse to said rows beneath said inverted elongated members, and means for removing the obstruction from said recesses of a plurality of elongated members while the recesses and cavities are in substantial alignment and while said elongated members are moving to deposit said unit centers from the recesses into the respective cavities, said obstructing means comprising an elongated plate slidably mounted on. each elongated member each being provided with a plurality of apertures spaced in conformity with the recesses in each elongated member whereby slidable movement of said plates dispose said plates in obstructing relation to said recesses and in non-obstructing relation when the apertures register with the irecesses.

4. A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candy mold cavities provided in rows in a continuously passing candy mold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, a plurality of parallel elongated members each provided with a plurality of recesses, 'means for carrying said members through said hopper in a direction transverse to their length and with the recesses opening upwardly to receive centers in said recesses, valve means carried by said members for opening and closing said recesses, means disposed adjacent the exit of the members'from the hopper for closing said valve means, means for inverting said recessed members, means for substantially aligning the recesses in each inverted member with aeeaoro;

the mold cavities of a. row of: cavities provided in the mold continuously moving beneath said in verted recessed. members in. a substantian straight line, means for moving said, inverted members in substantially a straight line parallel to the movement of said mold, and means for opening said valve means while the recesses and;

cavities are in substantial alignment and While said members move parallel to said mold to de posit centers from the recesses into the cavities.

5. A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candy mold cavities provided in a continuously passing candy mold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, endless means movable through said hopper provided with a plurality of recesses [or receiving a unit center in each recess, means for intermittently moving said endless means, movable means carried by said endless means for Ob? a structing said recesses, means disposed adjacent the path of travel of saidendless means :for movmg said obstructing means to obstruct egress of said centers from said recesses when said recessed means is inverted, means for inverting said recessed means, means for intermittently substantially aligning said recesses in inverted position With respective mold cavities provided in a mold continuously moving beneath said inverted recessed means, and means for moving said obstructing means to non-obstructing position while the recesses and cavities are in substantial alignment to deposit said unit centers from the recesses into the respective cavities.

6. A machine for simultaneously depositing in 1 of said centers, endless means movably positionsv in said hopper and forming a bottom therefor, said endless means being provided with, a: plurality of recesses for the reception of centers ironr said hopper, wiping means carried by said hopper for removing'excess centers from the surface of said endless means, valve means carried by said endless means to obstruct egress of said centers from said recesses when said endless means leaves said hopper, means for inverting said endless means, means for substantially aligning said recesses in inverted position with respect-to mold cavities provided in a mold continuously moving beneath said inverted recesses, in a substantially straight line, means for moving said endless means in a substantially straight line substantially parallel to the movement of said molds, and means for opening said valve means while the recesses and cavities are in substantial alignment and while said endless means moves sub stantially parallel to the movement of said molds to deposit said centers from the recesses into the cavities.

'7'. A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candy mold cavities provided in a continuously passing candy mold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, endless means movably positioned in said hopper and forming a bottom therefor, said endless means being provided with a plurality of recesses for the reception of centers from said hopper, brush means carried by said hopper for removing excess centers from the surface of said endless means, valve means carried by said endless means to obstruct egress of said centers from saidrecesses'when said endless means leaves,

said hopper, means for inverting saidi endless means, means for substantially aligning said recesses in inverted position. with respect: to mold:

ities provided in a continuously passing candymold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, endless means having an upper and lower pass, said endless? meansat its upper pass forming an upwardly inclined. bottom for said hopper for'supportingsaid centers, movable fingers positioned in said hopper with-their ends disposed adjacent said endless means, said fingers being movable contrary to the movement of said endless means to retrogressively move: said cen ters upon said endless means, said endless-meansbeing provided. with a plurality of. recessesior the receptionof centers from the hopper, valve means for obstructing egress of the centers frompre determined recesses as predetermined portions of said endless means leave the hopper and moves uponits lower pass, means for substantially aligning, saidrecesses with cavities provided in a mold moving beneath the lower pass of the endlessmeans. in a'substantially straight line, means or carryingthe lower pass of said endless meansin a substantially straight linesubstantially parallel to the movement of said mold, and means for opening said valve means while the recesses and. cavities are. in substantial alignment,- and while said endless means and mold move substantially parallelto deposit said centers from the recesses to the. cavities.

9 In a. device for carrying and discharging centersv for candy pieces which comprises, a plurality of relatively elongated members disposed laterally adjacent each other and movable in endless fashioniat right-angles to their length, each of said members, having aplurality of recesses disposed in a. row along the length of the member, an. apertured plate slidably disposed upon each of said .membersand'movable to open and close said recesses, cam means disposed adjacent the path of.- travel of said members for moving said plates to closesaid recesses. to confine centers in said recesses, and a second cam means spaced from said first-mentioned cam means and disposed adjacent the path of travel of said members for moving said plates to open the recesses to permit discharge of the centers rom the recesses.

10. In a device for carrying and discharging centers for candy pieces which comprises, a plurality of reiatively elongated members disposed laterally adjacent each other and movable in endless fashion at right-angles to their length, each of said members having a plurality of recesses disposed in a row along the length or the member,

an apertured plate slidably disposed upon each of said members and movable to open and close said recesses, cam means disposed adjacent the path or" travel of said members for moving said plates to close said recesses to confine centers in said recesses, means for operating said cam means in timed relationship with the movement of said,

members, and. a second cam means spaced from said first-mentioned cam means and disposed ad jacent the path of travel of said members for moving said plates to open the recesses to permit discharge of the centers from the recesses.

11. A machine for simultaneously depositing in a continuous manner a plurality of centers for candy pieces into a plurality of candy mold cavities provided in a continuously passing candy mold comprising, a hopper for carrying a mass of said centers, endless means positioned in said hopper and provided with a plurality of upwardly opening recesses for receiving a unit center in each recess, means upon said recessed means for obstructing egress of said centers from said recesses, means for inverting said recessed means, a mold having a plurality of moldcavities, means for continuously moving said mold in a substantially straight line, means for moving said endless means in a substantially straight line substantially parallel to the movement of said mold for a substantial portion of the mutual travel of said endless means and mold and with said recesses in substantial alignment with said mold cavities,

and means for removing the obstructions from said recesses While the substantially aligned recesses and cavities move with said endless means and mold, respectively, along said parallel lines to deposit said unit centers from the recesses into the respective aligned cavities.

CLYDE R. ZIMMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,756,222 Swett Apr. 29, 1930 1,763,083 I Bausman June 10, 1930 1,763,084 Bausman June 10, 1930 Zeun Sept. 4, 1951 

